Griffin goes top 100 at NCAAs

Runner completes cross country career at UGA

BLOOMINGTON, IND. -- University of Georgia runner Drew Griffin ended his cross country college career finishing 94th in his first career appearance in the NCAA Championships.

Griffin, who was seventh in the NCAA South Regionals, finished eighth among runners from the SEC with a time of 32:02.30.

Griffin ends his career after a season that saw him win All-SEC honors for the second time, All-Region honors and a first career trip to the NCAA Championships.

Griffin finished in the Top-10 in six of his eight races this season, including a first place finish in the first annual Bulldog Stampede.

''It was a tough competition, as always the field was extremely competitive and the hilly terrain made the course very difficult,'' said cross country coach Rachel Cook, who of course, made the trip to Indiana with Griffin. ''Drew ran a very strong race, but got a cramp with 2,000 meters left in the race that set him back. He has run tough all year and had a great senior season.''

Griffin will now set his sights toward the upcoming track season where he will look to build on his appearance in the 1,500 meter run in the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Last season he set school records in the 1,500 meter run with a time of 3:44.24 and in the indoor 3,000 meter run with a time of 8:11.71.

''I think Drew's experience in the NCAA Championships will go a long way towards helping him in the track season,'' said Cook. '

'This was his first appearance in the NCAA's and things might have been a little different if he had more experience under his belt.''

The Bulldogs women's team finished off the season with a third place finish in the SEC Championships and a fifth place finish in the NCAA Regionals. Georgia's men squad finished fifth in the SEC Championships and eighth in the NCAA Regionals.

The Bulldogs will begin their indoor track season on Jan. 14-15 when they travels to Clemson, S.C. to compete in the Clemson Invitational.